Pavement Preservation Letter

Pavement Preservation White Paper

Pavement Preservation FAQ

Pavement Preservation Benefits Card

LTPP Tech Brief

NJAPA Positions

Thinlays are a proven, effective method to use to preserve your roadway assets and extend their life – research has shown that thin asphalt overlays have resulted in performance being extended from 6 to 16 years.1 In 2011, the Federal Highway Administration issued a Technical Brief regarding the different pavement preservation techniques and found that “The overall results indicate that thin overlays and chip seals have superior performance, compared to slurry seal and crack seal.”2 This Technical Brief summarized that thin asphalt overlays “were more effective than slurry seal and crack seal treatments and performed better than the control section for fatigue cracking”; “mitigated and slowed the progression of rutting under all circumstances”; were “effective in mitigating and delaying the progression of roughness:”; and “outperformed other treatments when the existing section had minimal cracking prior to the treatment and higher levels of preexisting cracking.”2

Surface distresses and structural adequacy of the road must be evaluated prior to using pavement preservation treatments, including Thinlays.

Thinlays should be considered as part of any pavement preservation program.

Consideration should be given to protecting the pavement structure and the benefits of creating a Perpetual Pavement, particularly for thinner lower volume pavements, through the strategic application of Thinlays over time (staged construction).

Selection of Thinlays should include a review of the economic and engineering suitability.

Restrictions that prohibit the use of Thinlays due to possible addition of structural capacity and without technical basis should be removed from specifications and guidance.

Milling prior to overlay should be allowed, and in some cases encouraged, to allow removal of surface distresses and provide optimum smoothness for long-term performance.

The use of warm-mix asphalt (WMA) should be allowed for the construction of Thinlays.

The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and/or reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS) should be permitted for Thinlays.

Learn More About the Benefits of Thinlays

Contact Jim Purcell, NJAPA Technical Director, for more information or to schedule an in-person presentation.